Alexander Rossi taken to hospital after Indy 500 practice crash but expects to race

Driver Alexander Rossi was taken to the hospital after a three-car crash during practice for the Indianapolis 500 on Monday, May 18. He was treated for injuries on a left finger and his right ankle, according to his team, Ed Carpenter Racing.

ECR released a statement Monday evening saying, "Rossi is in good spirits and has no additional injuries." Rossi will continue to be evaluated by the IndyCar medical team and is expected to participate in Carb Day practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 22 and in the 2026 Indy 500 on Sunday, May 24 where he qualified on the front row in second position.

"The No. 20 Java House Chevrolet crew will prepare a backup car (for Rossi) and return to the track for final practice on Friday, May 22," ECR said in its statement.

Rossi, the 2016 Indy 500 winner, spun out and crashed into the wall in Turn 2 during Monday's practice session. Pato O'Ward got caught in the dust, spun out and ran into Rossi from the side. Upon driving up to the scene of the crash, Romain Grosjean spun out from behind and crashed into the wall.

O'Ward and Grosjean were taken to the infield medical center and released, according to the Indy Star, part of the USA TODAY Network. They two drivers will have reconstructed cars in time for Friday's practice. O'Ward is slated to start on the second row in sixth place while the former F1 racer Grosjean qualified on the eighth row in 24th place.

After spending more than 90 minutes inside the medical center, Rossi was transported to a local hospital in Indianapolis.

IndyCar released a statement about an hour and a half after the crash that said, "Alexander Rossi is being transported to a local hospital for further evaluation, per Dr. Julia Vaizer, IndyCar medical director." They also said that while he was evaluated at the track's medical center, he was "awake and alert, and in good spirits."

Rossi did not speak to reporters after the crash. O'Ward and Grosjean both said they were okay.

"I'm alright. I'm good," O'Ward said after being evaluated.. "Just wrong place, wrong time. ... I've had plenty of hits here, so I'll be able to get back in it just like nothing happened, and I know my guys will be able to replace whatever it is that's damaged to make sure that we're right back where we were."

Grosjean also said he was "good," but joked he was "better 10 minutes ago, right?" Grosjean then got serious and expressed concern for his fellow drivers.

"Most importantly everyone is okay. It happens. Rossi spun. Pato spun. ... Not ideal, wrong place, wrong time."